Most of you guys wanted another update today so I typed it out! Thanks so much for all the reviews. I try to respond to all of them but I forget to sometimes. Don't hold it against me. :P Anyway, I had someone send me a message asking me why the title was relevant to the story. I was curious to know what you guys thought!
Enjoy!
Cape Ann was about an hour from the bride they were stuck on, depending on the weather and how fast you drive. Quinn was frustrated, whereas Rachel simply looked frightened. She was clutching at her seatbelt with an almost frantic look on her face. "Quinn," she screeched, "you're driving like some sort of maniac!"
Quinn gripped the steering wheel tightly. "This is Boston, Rach," Quinn replied with a chuckle, "everyone drives like a maniac. It's just the way it goes." A red light stopped them giving Rachel ample time to catch Quinn's gaze.
"You'll have us killed before your parents are able to do the deed," she whispered. Quinn could tell the girl was nervous. She didn't want to make her feel worse by telling her that she had every reason to be. Her father, despite his arrogance, was well-liked by everyone that encountered him. For once she honestly hoped that he lived up to the world's standards of him.
"Babe, my parents are nice people," Quinn stated. The light changed forcing Quinn to tear her gaze away from Rachel.
"Even the son of a bitch?" The blonde's brows furrowed. She had no idea who Rachel was talking about. She questioned the brunette on who she was referring to. "Russell Fabray. Isn't that what you told me that you called him?" Quinn laughed, remembering clearly when she and Rachel had the conversation about him.
"He's a nice guy, Rach," she turned the radio off before putting her right hand back on the steering wheel. "You'll like him. I'm sure of it." Rachel scoffed.
"How do you know that, huh? Do you think you know me that well? You can't determine what people I will and will not like." The blonde's head turned slowly to the right to stare at her girl in disbelief and confusion.
"Everybody likes him," Quinn answered with an air of nonchalance, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"You don't," Rachel replied. "I recall many occasions when you actually convinced me of quite the opposite actually." Quinn rolled her eyes but it went unnoticed by the brunette. "Why don't you like him?"
"That's easy," Quinn snorted. "Because everybody else likes him." Quinn frowned suddenly hit by a thought. Why was she taking Rachel to meet her parents? She didn't need her father's blessings. She didn't need anything from then when it came to Rachel. Rachel had insisted that they meet simply because it was the way things were done. A large part of it though was simply because Russell Fabray was her banker. He paid for everything. Her every schoolbook, her private tutoring, and even the damn tuition.
"This is just going to be casual, right?" Quinn nodded. "How often do you visit them during school?"
"Never," Quinn replied honestly.
"Right, that's casual," Rachel replied, sarcasm lacing every word.
She pulled out off the main road and onto a more familiar street. Rachel looked around nervously though. "There are no houses," she stated before looking around the green area. "There are only trees. Are you planning on killing me?"
"Tempting, but no. The houses are behind the trees." Rachel nodded. Quinn continued driving but slowed down. The turnoff to her house was easily missed.
She also realized that she had in fact missed it three hundred yards down the road. She slammed the brakes and threw her head back in laughter, efficiently scaring the girl beside her. "Where are we?"
"We went past it," Quinn grumbled before cursing under her breath. The day was starting to shape up to be entirely wonderful. She turned around and upon getting to the right turn took it. They were finally on Fabray land.
"Holy freaking hell," Rachel whispered much to Quinn's confusion.
"What is it?" Quinn rushed out. "What's the matter, Rachel?" She began to flail wildly, motioning with her hands. Quinn tried to understand, but she truly didn't know sign language. "Rachel, what are you trying to say?"
"Pull over," she yelled. "I'm not kidding, Quinn. Stop the damn car." The blonde slammed the brakes again and waited patiently for the brunette to calm down. "I didn't think it would be like this," she whispered before toying with the hem of her skirt.
"What? Like what?"
"I didn't think it would be this rich. I bet you have personal slaves in there, Quinn. Jesus," she mumbled. Quinn sighed. She wanted to reach over and comfort her, but she was honestly dreading everything herself.
"Don't worry about it," she reassured, "everything will be alright." Rachel nodded. In a way Quinn was slightly amused. Rachel was always so sure of herself and composed. She was finally getting to see Rachel in a state of mess.
"I'm kind of wishing that I came from a WASP family though," Rachel stated before playing with her nose. "They'll know I'm Jewish right away," she joked. Quinn laughed before putting the car back in drive and going the rest of the way. Upon reaching the house she stopped the car again and helped Rachel out before walking to the front door.
Waiting for the door to be answered was what finally caused Rachel to crack. "Let's run away," she whispered before turning around. Quinn tugged at the girl's wrist and pulled her back before giving a reassuring kiss.
"Let's just stay and fight," Quinn whispered.
The door was opened by Emma, a Fabray family servant. "Miss Quinn," she greeted before turning to look at Rachel. Quinn groaned. She hated being called that. "Your parents are waiting in the library." Quinn nodded before reaching out for Rachel's hand.
"God," Rachel whispered so that no one else would hear, "I can see half of the Harvard buildings hanging up in here," she pointed to the various portraits lining the walls.
"It's just a bunch of crap," Quinn replied with a smile. At the end of the hall before entering the library was a glass case filled with athletic trophies. Rachel gasped and traced the glass.
"They're beautiful. I've never seen them look so real." Quinn frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"I've never seen ones that look like real gold and silver." Quinn nodded to acknowledge the question.
"Well," she started, "they are." Rachel's jaw dropped. She quit looking at the trophies and then looked at Quinn with pride.
"Are they yours?" The blonde sighed.
"No, my father's." Rachel frowned before biting her lip in nervousness. Quinn simply gave her a smile and prayed that Rachel couldn't tell that it was forced.
"Do you have trophies?" She chuckled.
"Yes," she replied with a smile-this time more real than the last. "They're in my room." Rachel nodded.
"In a glass case?" Quinn shook her head before bringing Rachel's palm up to her face and pressing her lips against the soft skin. "Where are they?
"Under my bed," she admitted. It wasn't that she was ashamed of them, exactly, but she wasn't proud. She didn't need constant reminders of such things unlike her father. Rachel gave her a coy look before getting on her tip-topes.
She whispered into the blonde's ear seductively, "We'll go look at them later, right?" Quinn's jaw dropped-ready to suggest that they go upstairs then and there.
"Hello there," a voice interrupted. Quinn fought the urge to groan and turned around. It was the son of a bitch.
"Hello, father," Quinn replied. "This is Rachel-"
"Hello," he stated and then reached for her hand. He began to shake it-all before Quinn had even gotten to finish introducing the girl. He wasn't his normal work clothes, Quinn realized. He had on a cashmere sport jacket and an sinister smile. "Come meet Mrs. Fabray," he stated.
Quinn was beginning to think she should have taken Rachel up on the offer to run. She was certain that meeting Judy 'Tipsy' Fabray was going to go on the list of accomplishments for Rachel. Tipsy left college before finishing her sophomore year to marry Russell. Quinn was grateful that the woman never thought about leaving her husband. She would have a hard time living if she ever did.
"This is my wife, Judy," Russell coldly stated. "Judy this is Rachel…" He trailed off. Quinn felt like punching the man in the face. He had already messed up.
"Brery," Quinn added since the son of a bitch didn't know Rachel's last name.
"Berry," Rachel politely stated before giving Quinn an odd look for mispronouncing her last name. Quinn felt like falling into the ocean and drowning or something equally horrible. How could she say Rachel's last name wrong? That had never happened.
"As in the Canal de Berry?" Judy stated before sipping a glass of wine she had already been nursing. Quinn groaned aloud. Trust her mother to have to say something to make herself feel smart.
"No, we're not related," Rachel joked. Quinn should have warned Rachel not to do that. The Fabray's looked at her as though she were mentally not there.
"Right," they said at the same time.
Judy reached out and shook Rachel's hand before pulling the two over to sit down. The library was eerily silent-no one was talking. Quinn tried to figure out what was happening. She knew that her mother was checking Rachel-judging her already.
"Quinnie, how have you been?" She looked at Russell and nodded.
"I've been well, Sir." He nodded. Judy looked at Russell before tearing her gaze away and making eye contact with Rachel.
"How was the trip here, Dear?" Rachel smiled shyly and played nervously with the hem of her skirt.
"It was lovely. The scenery was definitely lacking though," she laughed. Quinn's parents were un-amused.
Somehow a teacup ended up in both of their hands. Quinn had spaced out while Rachel and Judy had been conversing about music or art. She wasn't entirely sure. Quinn looked around the room before loudly yawning. "We have to get going soon."
"What," Rachel questioned in confusion. Quinn supposed that it seemed as though she had gone off on a tangent. That couldn't be further from the truth though. She had been ready to leave since getting in the car to come to the Fabray's.
"You didn't come for dinner?" Judy feigned sadness.
"We can't," Quinn stated.
At the same time, "Of course," fell from Rachel's lips. Damn the brunette and Quinn's inability to deny her anything.
"I have to get back," Quinn tried one last time. Rachel gave her another odd look before Russell cleared his throat.
"What are you talking about, Quinnie? You're staying for dinner. That's final," he chuckled with a fake smile. Quinn growled lowly. It went unnoticed by everyone but Rachel. She was not going to be told what to do by that man.
"We can't," Quinn replied with conviction.
"Quinn, we have to," Rachel whispered before running her fingers over Quinn's forearm.
"Why?" She whined causing Rachel to break out into a smile.
"I'm hungry."
They sat at the table with Russell at the head. Judy was on his right and Rachel on his left. Quinn watched as her father's prayer seemed unending. She wondered what Rachel would think. The old man was clearly trying to show himself off.
Quinn was mortified.
"Play ball," Quinn yelled as some sort of tension breaker. The room turned quiet. No one seemed the slightest bit amused. Rachel glared at her before looking away. Russell looked at Quinn before taking a bite off of his plate.
"I wish you would have played ball. You could have been good at something," he stated. Quinn immediately dropped her head and began to nibble at the food on her plate.
Much to Quinn's horror the rest of the dinner didn't go by in silence. "Rachel, where are you and your parents from?" Rachel smiled before placing her napkin gracefully in her lap.
"My dad is from Lima, actually," Rachel stated proudly. "My daddy is from Boston though." Judy's jaw dropped in something akin to horror. Russell cleared his throat.
"We own some mills in Lima actually." Rachel smiled.
"Small world."
"Yes," Quinn added. "It's where they take advantage of the poor. They work for cheap money," the blonde stated. Rachel slapped her hand lightly.
"In the olden days," Russell chuckled. "Would you two like some coffee?" Rachel nodded. Judy stood up and headed off towards the kitchen.
They went back into the library for what Quinn hoped to be the final time that night. She and Rachel had classes the next day, Son of a Bitch had the bank, and Quinn was certain that Tipsy had something to do. "Would you like some sugar, Sweetie?" Judy asked. Quinn shook her head and proceeded to hold her coffee.
"Of course she does," Russell interjected. "She always likes sugar." Quinn scowled.
"Not tonight. I just want it black," Quinn snapped. Russell smiled and nodded. Judy sat back down and patted her husband's thigh lovingly. Quinn wanted to throw up.
"Oh, Russell, have you told her?" Quinn's eyes narrowed. Anything her father could have to say would be terrible.
"No dear, drop it," Russell smiled. Quinn knew what he meant though. He was begging for someone to ask him.
Dryly, Quinn asked, "What, sir?"
"Nothing important," he replied before wrapping his arm around Judy.
"Nonsense," she shouted with excitement. "Your father is going to be the director of the Peace Corps." Quinn frowned. That was simply another thing her father could add to his list of successes.
"Oh," Quinn let out harshly. Rachel, too, said oh, but hers was in a happier kind of way. Quinn's father acted as though he were embarrassed while he took all of Rachel's compliments.
"Congratulations, Mr. Fabray," Rachel exclaimed. "That's truly wonderful. The Peace Corps is a brilliant thing." Russell nodded. "It will be a wonderful experience."
"Yeah," Quinn added lamely. "Can you pass me the sugar?"
The moment they had gotten back in the car Quinn had known something was wrong with Rachel. She opted not to press her about it though. She knew how upset Rachel would get if you questioned her before she had simmered down. "You could have been happier for your father, Quinn," she whispered into the silence.
"It's not like he's the President of the United States, Rachel," Quinn snapped before turning the radio on and blaring the volume.
"You could have been more enthusiastic or something. You acted like you were brain-dead," she crossed her arms over her chest and scoffed.
"I said 'congrats'," Quinn defended herself. Rachel gasped before clapping-all of it done in a sarcastic manner.
"Well, that was so very generous of you, Miss Fabray." Quinn's knuckles paled as she grabbed the steering wheel tighter. She didn't want to take her anger out on Rachel, but the brunette was steadily making her angrier. "The whole thing makes me sick, Quinn."
"That makes the both of us," she replied before a minute of silence passed. "What makes you sick?" She added.
"The way that you treat your father. It's disgusting, Quinn. You should be ashamed." It was a low blow. Rachel knew how she felt about her father and she was once again taking the old man's side. She felt tears welling up in her eyes but decided she wouldn't give Rachel the chance to see her cry.
"What about the way he treats me?" She cried out.
"What are you talking about?" Rachel shouted. "He's your father, Quinn. He loves you regardless. Why are you being like this?" Quinn rubbed her eyes, thankful that it was dark out so that Rachel wouldn't know what she was doing. "You just bother him. You never stop. I was mortified."
"He did the same thing to me. Did you not notice that at all?" Rachel scoffed before turning her body so that none of it was facing Quinn.
"I don't think you'd stop at anything to hurt your father."
"It's not possible to hurt him. I don't know of a damn thing that would piss him off." The silence was odd; it was heavy and not comfortable.
"Unless you marry Rachel Berry," Rachel whispered. Instantly Quinn felt herself grow furious. She pulled over into the nearest parking lot before unbuckling her seatbelt. "What is it?" Rachel yelped.
"Is that really what you think, Rachel?" Quinn shouted. "You don't think that I love you?"
"Well," Rachel trailed off, "yes, you know I do. I think that you love me because I'm frowned upon though." Quinn opened her mouth to interrupt, "Really Quinn, marrying me would drive your father mad. He doesn't approve of me. That was blatant. You cannot say that it has nothing to do with it."
"Yes, I can," she whispered.
"I can't judge you, Quinn," Rachel added. "I love you, but I love your name. I love that you're a Fabray." She looked away and cleared her throat. "I can't not love it because it's just who you are."
Quinn blinked for several seconds unsure of what to say. She had loved Rachel because she had always been able to see the good in her that no one else was capable of seeing. It didn't change the fact that she felt unworthy of the perky diva though. She looked up at the neon sign blinking "Clams and Oysters."
"How can you just do that," Quinn whispered. Rachel asked what. "How can you sit there and just love me?"
"I just do," Rachel replied. Quinn looked away to hide the tears again. She had probably cried more that night than she had in her entire life.
"Would you like a clam or an oyster, Rachel?" The brunette's eyes widened comically.
"Do you want a punch in the mouth?" Quinn nodded, smiling when Rachel made a fist and placed it against the girl's cheek. "I'll do it."
"No you won't," Quinn dared before kissing her fist. She leaned over to give her a hug but was punched in the arm by petite girl.
"Just drive, Blondie. I don't have all day here." Quinn threw her head back and chuckled before putting the car back in drive and taking off.